According to the most recent statistics, the UK boasts 4.2 million CCTV cameras – that is one for every 14 people in the country. The small island has so many cameras that the total number of cameras in the UK counts for 20% of all the cameras in the world. With so many cameras poised to capture our movements in public and not so much as a whimper from the public, why are we all of a sudden up in arms when we spot the conspicuous Google spycar taking a few snapshots?
Well, the people up in arms may not be you or I but it has certainly ruffled the feathers of Privacy International who are currently known to be seeking out more information on the details of the project from the Information Commissioner’s Office.
There was a bit of an outcry a while back when Google was sending out its spyvan-cam on its home turf. It has now begun blurring people’s faces in the pictures it took then and plans to do the same for the snaps it takes in Europe. Google will also blur out vehicle number plates and has already put in place the technology to do so. It recognises faces and number plates and works to blur them out.
So far the Google spycar has been spotted in London, Edinburgh and Cardiff, proven by a snapshot of the Google Street View car by the Register. A bit like taking a picture of your friend taking a picture.
July 7, 2008
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